Concern

Dear MRFF:

Hello. My name is (name withheld). I wanted to email my concern to you about this statement; “Why? Because Mikey Weinstein of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation complained that promoting charity for impoverished children through Operation Christmas Child, run by Franklin Graham of Samaritan’s Purse, is a constitutional violation.” Made by a man named Mikey Weinstein, I am sure of relation to you.

Please, clarify to me how this is a violation and show me any documentation that says that.

Home depot gives money to the homosexual movement; The NFL gives to the united way; NASCAR gives money to Lowes; in the military, I was free to give money to any charity I pleased and event to this day you can still through CFC. What is the difference? I think you are trying to shoot holes in the dark.

Thank you for any response.
(name withheld)

Dear (name withheld),

Mikey has read and asked me to respond to your email.

It’s refreshing to respond to an email seeking information rather than making blind accusations. In regards to your reference to Operation Christmas Child, you should be aware that it continues unabated at the US Air Force Academy simply with the lead change as requested by MRFF from USAFA’s Command Structure to its Chaplain Corps. A change by the way, requested by MRFF, in order to follow clear direction recently ordered by the Air Force Chief of Staff (http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2011/09/air-force-schwartz-warns-commanders-on-religious-programs-091611/). Confirmation of this can be seen in this USAFA press release:

Friday, November 4, 2011

Academy responds to cadet community project — Community project will continue, led by Academy Chaplains

http://www.usafa.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123278819

The clear Missionary/Proselytizing purpose of OCC is discussed freely in the following video produced by Samaritan’s Purse; ‘The Greatest Journey’ http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=X1MNZvED3mw. If this one video by the parent organization of OCC is not enough to see the clear and unambiguous proselytizing purposes of OCC, please feel free to review the entire Samaritan’s Purse YouTube Video Channel located at http://www.youtube.com/user/SamaritansPurseVideo. This is obviously a program best administered/supported through the Chaplain Corps, not within the chain of command.

Unless I am missing something, none of the examples you noted involved an instance of government command/supervisory level involvement in a religious charity. You bring up a good point with the CFC and I will do some research, however, like the Chaplain Corps; I believe the CFC provides the charitable opportunity without any supervisory/command entanglement with the charity.

To be clear, MRFF doesn’t want to “Grinch” some toys out of the hands of children and, in fact, has engaged in several toy drives itself. Rather, through its assertions to the academy and other military commands, MRFF is trying to look out for children by assuring the most powerful military in the world doesn’t promote or disparage any religion, which, as history has shown us, can lead to horrific consequences for those, including children, who don’t belong to the “preferred” religion.

Your consideration of this information is greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,

Andy Kasehagen